He Sabotaged My College Application to Please His Girlfriend,So I Took His Dream School Instead

When I checked my college applications, I discovered that my seatmate had changed my first choice from the Ivy League to the most remote community college he could find.

I called him in a panic. He answered with a breezy "oh."

“My girlfriend got jealous. She can't handle the idea of you and me going to college in the same city.”

“Her grades aren't great, so community college is all she can get into. Having some girl 'bro' of mine heading off to the Ivy League makes her feel insecure.”

“Bro, for the sake of my happiness, you're just gonna have to take one for the team.”

The line went dead.

I looked down at the skirt I was wearing.

I was a girl. Who the hell wanted to be his "bro"?

He wanted to trade my future for his happiness?

I let out a cold laugh, pulled up the application portal, and changed my first choice to Graystone University's Nuclear Physics program. The exact one he'd applied to.

That program only admitted one student from our city each year.

And my SAT scores were thirty points higher than his.

……

With less than a minute left before the deadline, I hit submit.

Darrell Dickerson called again, still sounding like he didn't have a care in the world.

“Hey Driscoll, Dorothy's threatening to break up with me. My hands are tied here.”

“Besides, the deadline's already passed. You couldn't change it back even if you wanted to. Just think of it as doing your buddy a favor.”

“And honestly, what's wrong with community college? You can always transfer to a four-year later. With your grades, it's not like it'll hold you back.”

I cut him off.

“Darrell. I'm a girl. Stop calling me 'bro.' Stop acting like we're buddies.”

“And while you're at it, tell your girlfriend I'm not your 'girl bro' or whatever she thinks I am. She can stop worrying.”

Darrell went quiet for a second, then laughed.

“Come on, Driscoll. We've been bros for two years. No need to get all weird about it now.”

My chest went tight with rage and my hands were shaking so badly I couldn't get a word out.

My last name is Driscoll. Full name, Mildred Driscoll.

Everyone in class called me "Millie" or just "Mildred."

Everyone except Darrell, who insisted on throwing his arm around my shoulders and calling me his bro.

Because he was convinced I had a crush on him.

To keep his girlfriend from getting jealous, and to make sure I "got the message," he'd decided to brand me as one of the guys.

I'd explained the truth more times than I could count.

I told him I wasn't interested, that the only thing I cared about in high school was studying.

He just grinned that punchable grin of his.

“You help me with my homework every single night during study hall. If that's not a crush, what is it?”

I exhaled through my teeth.

“The teacher assigned me to tutor you. Because your grades were slipping.”

He scoffed.

“Then why do you always sit on the sidelines watching me play basketball during gym?”

“My eyes were tired from reading. I was looking into the distance to relax. You just happened to be there.”

“Liar!” He jumped up and mimed a jump shot, smug as ever. “You just blinked. That means you're guilty.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose.

“No, I……”

He put a finger to his lips and shushed me with a smile.

“Driscoll, you're not allowed to like me. I have a girlfriend.”

“But you're also not allowed to stop liking me. Otherwise you'll have to sit there staring at me every day, suffering in silence.”

I gave up. It wasn't worth explaining anymore.

As long as it didn't affect my grades, I wasn't going to waste another breath on it.

After graduation, I'd never have to see his face again.

What I never expected was that he'd spy on my login password, break into my account, and change my Ivy League application to a community college, all to keep his girlfriend happy.

There was no swallowing this one.

“If you're so worried about Dorothy getting jealous, why don't you give up Graystone and go to her community college instead? You two could be at the same school. Wouldn't that make her feel way more secure?”

“Ha?”

Darrell sounded like I'd just told him the funniest joke he'd ever heard.

“Me? Community college? Graystone's Nuclear Physics program is my dream! I'm going to be a defense engineer. Serve my country.”

“You know I only put down one school and didn't check the box for alternate placement. I'm going to Graystone. That's the only place I'll ever go.”